System of signaling on railways.



PATENTED SEPT. 13

F. BONGRAND.

SYSTEM OF SIGNALING 0N RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1900.

N0 MODEL.

aenfat ilNiTED STATES PATENT f Patented September 13, 1904.

uric-E.

SYSTEM OF SIGNALING ON RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,813, dated September 13, 1904.

Application filed August '7, 1900. Serial No. 26,169. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANooIs BONGRAND, a citizen of the French Republic, and a resident of Gusset, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the System of Signaling on Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signals for railways whereby trains stopped for any cause upon a track may be protected against other trains or locomotives running upon the same set of rails. These signals consist, essentially, of an electromotor provided with a drum upon which is wound or unwound a cable operating a signal-arm mounted upon a mast.

The accompanying drawing shows an illustration of these signals.

A line-wire a is attached to posts placed at suitable distances from each other. Alongside the track one end of this line-wire is provided with a source of electrical energy, the other being led to earth. In this line-wire and at the required distance are inserted the signals. These signals consist of an electromotor 1, upon the armature-shaft 2 of which is slidably arranged adrum8, round which is wound a cable A, the other end whereof is provided with a chain 5. This chain passes over a sprocket-wheel 6, keyed to the spindle 7 of the signal-arm 8. To the end of this chain is attached a balance-weight 9, the use whereof will be hereinafter explained. The end of the drum is provided with a disk 10, which acts as armature to the coils 11 12 of the electromagnet A. This signal is completed by a contact-board 13, furnished with an electromagnet B, consisting, as usual, of two coils 1 1 15, with their cores and armature 16, to which are attached two contacts 17 18, making contact with two contacts 19 20, fixed to the board 13.

The contact 19 is connected to the terminal 21 of the electromagnet A. The other terminal, 22, is connected to the wire leading from the source P of electrical energy to the terminal 23 of the motor. The other terminal of the source P is connected at 24 to the armature 16 of the electromagnet B. The connections are completed by a wire leading from the contact 20 to the terminal 25 of the before-mentioned motor.

The devices are placed at certain distances along the track and are connected together in series, one end of the line being provided with a storage battery or the like. A switch or like connected to earth may be inserted between two signals.

The manner of operating is as follows: When a train is in distress, an ofiicial thereof passes, by means of the switch, the current through the coils 1 1 or 15 of the board 13, which attract their armature 16, thereby forming contact between 17 and 18 and permits a current setup by P to pass through the motor. The armature of the motor winds the cable upon the drum and which passing over a pulley placed upon the signal-post exerts a traction upon the chain 5, which passing over the sprocket-wheel 6 causes the signal to take up its position of danger and is maintained therein by means of the contact formed between the disk 10 and the coils 11 12. When danger is passed, it will suffice to turn off the before-named switch, the signals being brought back to their normal position by means of the balance-weight 9.

Although the action of one signal only has been described, the action of the signal upon the other side of the switch is identical with that just described.

This switch .may be replaced, first, by a portable switch one wire of which is connected to the line-wire and the other to earth; secondly, by a metal rod or like placed in contact with the line-wire and earth.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric signal for railways the combination of a source of electricity, an electromagnet and its keeper placed upon a contactboard said keeper being provided with contact parts contacting with like parts placed upon the said boards, connections to an electric motor, a drum mounted upon the shaft thereof, a disk upon the end of said drum and an elec- 'tromagnet the armature whereof consists of over a sprocket-Wheel keyed to the spindle of the disk substantially as described and as the signal-arm and a balance-Weight attached shown. to the end of said chain substantially as de- 2. In an electric signal for railways the comscribed and as shown. 15 5 bination of a source of electricity, an electro: In testimony whereof I have hereunto set magnlet aid its keeper placeddugon ahcontactmy hand in presence-of two Witnesses. boar sai keeper being provi e Wit contact w parts contacting With like parts placed upon FRANQOIS BONGRAND' the said boards, connections to an electro- Witnesses: IO motor, a drum mounted upon the shaft, a ca- JEAN S. COUTRIE.

ble Wound round said drum, a chain passing MARIUS VAoHoN. 

